Although the Battalion had only been actively engaged since April 12th, 1915, and had had several short periods of rest, the casualties from enemy action and sickness (mostly fever), during the seven months to November 5th, 1915, had necessitated the provision and absorption of drafts totalling 1,600 men or nearly twice the original strength of the Battalion.
For services during the siege two Distinguished Service Orders and nine Indian Distinguished Service Medals were subsequently awarded to officers and men of the Regiment.
CHAPTER VIII
END OF THE GREAT WAR—THIRD AFGHAN WAR
During the siege large drafts for the Battalion had collected with the relieving force, including Lieut.-Colonel Rodney-Anderson, who had been appointed Commandant, Lieutenants R. D. E. Darell, E. J. D. McElwaine, A. H. Dobbs, T. M. Graves, 2nd-Lieutenants Lechler and Mahoney, Indian Army Reserve of Officers. The first-named died in hospital, and Lieutenants Dobbs and Graves were killed in action with the relieving force. The men were all attached to the 82nd Punjabis (now 5th Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment) and the 92nd Punjabis throughout the operations of the relieving force.
On January 1st, 1917, the Depot of the Battalion received orders to expand to a battalion and reform the 76th, the drafts in Mesopotamia being returned to assist in the making up of numbers. Lieut.-Colonel W. L. Malcolm, from the 31st Punjabis, was appointed to command in March, and the Regiment moved to Chaman for garrison duty there. In November a nucleus was sent to join the new 2nd Battalion of the Regiment which was being raised at Nasirabad. This Battalion eventually did good service on the frontier in 1919-20 in the Waziristan and Mahsud Campaigns, being mentioned in despatches. Several officers of the 76th served in it and it was demobilized in September, 1922, some of the officers and men rejoining the 1st Battalion.
Lieut.-Colonel L. A. Watson, from the 74th Punjabis, took over command on February 1st, 1918, and in the same month the Battalion moved to Dera Ismail Khan and thence to Tank, leaving a depot at the former place. In June Major J. F. Woodham returned from service and took command.
The Regiment remained at Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, from time to time holding the outposts.
While at Tank two-thirds of the Regiment were at one time in hospital with Spanish influenza, of which sixty-four died. In December, 1918, and January, 1919, the released Kut prisoners of war rejoined and were at once sent off to their homes on furlough. The numbers that rejoined were 8 Indian officers, 183 non-commissioned officers and men, and 17 followers.
The following battle honours were granted to the Regiment for the Great War:—